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Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone premiere 'The Mechanic'

A friend and mentor is never expendable -- just ask "The Mechanic" star Jason Statham.

The hot action star got a visit Tuesday from "The Expendables" director Sylvester Stallone at the Los Angeles premiere of Statham's new flick.

A red-carpet screening of the remake was held at the ArcLight Hollywood, where Statham and costars Ben Foster, Donald Sutherland and Mini Anden showed up to support the assassin flick -- as did Tila Tequila, rather inexplicably, but sporting a darker 'do nonetheless. Click the pic of Miss Tila, right, for more photos from the red carpet.

After the show, filmmakers enjoyed a private dinner across town at Italian joint Ago, where Statham, Foster and Arden broke bread for a significant family celebration: Producers David Winkler and Bill Chartoff revived the title from its 1972 original, made by their fathers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff.

Does the "Mechanic" cast start your engine? Tell us in the comments section below.